Powder dispensing device



Feb. 23, 1954 H. LA MERS ETAL POWDER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Mch 30. 195o ZShetS-Sheet l INVENTORS HERBERT LAMERS E /47 CHARLES-LEICHT Q BY Feb. 23, 1954 H, LA MERS ETAL 2,670,103

POWDER DISPENSING DEvCE Filed March 30, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES LEICHT BY MRNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 POWDER DISPENSING DEVICE Herbert La, Mers, New York, and Charles Leicht, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 30, 1950, Serial No. 152,906

17 claims. 1

This invention relates to a dispensing device.

Broadly, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which may be readily attached to the bottom of a container of soap powder, granular, pulverulent or other similar materials to facilitate the dispensing of the contents of the container.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to prevent the bottom of the container from becoming wet when it is placed upon a wet surface or if the surface upon which it stands becomes wet.

A further object of the device is to prevent the contents of the container from spilling if the container is accidentally pushed over.

Another object of the device is to measure the quantity of the contents of the container to be removed at any one time.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character aforesaid which can be inexpensively produced and which will be serviceable in operation and durable in use'.

'Another object is to provide a device of the type described which can be readily attached to a container and which will remain so attachedv until the contents of the container is exhausted and which can then be easily removed from the container.

Another object of a modification of the device permits the device to cutan opening in a cardboardcontainer and become seated thereon automatically.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the fea, tures of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which Will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

. lFor a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device on. a reduced scale, embodying the preferred form of the invention.

' Fig. 2.'is a top view of the device, the upper member being partly broken away to show the underneathstructure and part of the plate directly beneath the upper member being also partly broken* away to show the stop and spring member. y

Fig.A 3 is alsectionrtakenthrough line 3-3 of Fig. '2.'

Figi 4 is a section taken through line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the openings in alignment permitting the contents of the container to flow into the dispensing compartment of the device.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the lower openings of the movableportion overriding the adjacent openings of the upper or seating plate to permit continued flow of material during the dispensing period.

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional View with a modified stop so that the openings are not in alignment upon compression of the movable portion.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified device of the same structure as the previous figures except that it contains a cutting device for piercing the bottom of a cardboard container.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the cutting device partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the dispensing device comprises an upper tray I0 rectangular in form having two opposed long sides I I-I I, two opposed short sides I2-I2 and a bottom I3. The bottom I3 has a series of regularly spaced rectangular openings I4. The four sides of the tray In act as a housing to receive the bottom portion of a rectangular cardboard box which may contain soap powder or other similar material. In each of the four corners on the inside of the tray I0 there are triangular shaped wedges I5 having sharp edges I6 which grip the corners I1 of the cardboard container I8 so that the cardboard container I8 cannot be dislodged from the tray I0 once it is in position therein unless the container I8 is collapsed when the contents thereof has been dispensed. It is within the realm of our invention to make a deeper tray, if desired, and to provide more than one Wedge in each corner, one below the other and spaced apart from each other to provide further gripping wedges as additional holding means, if it should be found necessary depending upon the size and Weight of the contents of the container I8 and the quality and thickness of the cardboard of the container I3. n

The openings I4 in the bottom of the tray I0 are transverse and cover substantially the bottom- I3. The bottom I3 may be removable,if desired.

The lower portion of the device comprises a rectangular housing I9 slightly less in Width'and in length providing a flange 20 around the lower portion ofthe tray IU. The lower portion has a bottom 2|, opposed like sides 22, a front 23 and a back 24. Spaced a short distance from the back 24 is an upright wall 25 which runs across the,`

width of the lower portion, that is housing IS,

movable plate 28 is a drawer 3B having a coml partment 3l. The drawer 3B has a bottom 32 which is sloped inwardly, opposed sides 33 and a front 34. The drawer 30 lhas nobaekand communicates with the interior of the lower portion of the device. The drawer portion is adapted to move through an opening 35 in the front 23, the sides 33 and bottom 32 of the drawer 3G being suiiciently long so that they do not pass through the opening 35 when the drawer is in open or outward position as shown in Fig. 5. When the drawer '3B -is in closed position Ythe opening 35 at the front of the lower portion is sealed since the upper edge of the front vwall of drawer 34 is beneath the flange'Z.

kAttached to the longitudinal central portion of the lower face of movable lplate 26 vis a central divider plate 36 which runs `from the upright wall 25 to the inner edge '3l of the bottom 32 of the drawer 30 and is high enough to reach to about the bottom 21 of vthe lower portion of the device. Plate 36 stiiiens the battles louvres `43 and supports the drawer 3G. At the end opposlte the drawer 130 of movable plate 2li is a depending wall or plate '38 which serves as a finger pushing plate for the movable vplate 25. The movable plate Y2t slides upon a ledge 513, as show-n in Fig. 5. At the back of plate 33 are inwardly projecting members `39 and lugs 43 which permit one end of the spring 23 to be sea-ted therebetween. On the wall 25 and projecting within compartment 2l isa circular projection l4I vupon which the opposite end of spring 29 is seated. Depending plate 3&3 stops against the inner 'portion of one of the .short `sides I2 as best shown at 42 in Figs. 4 and 5. `Depending from the bottom of movable plate 26 and disposed angularly inwardly and downwardly from the 'back of openings 28 towards the drawer por` tion of 'the device, are a series of like baiiie Y louvres 43 which shield the openings 28 to prevent the contents within the 'lower -portion ci the 'device from re-entering the container 113, especially when the contents within container IL8 is low.

Along sides v'22 are opposed elongated windows 44 `which are divided by lines 45 which maybe either painted on the windows or divided b y indented lines, each division representing the equivalent -of a tablespoonful of material. The opposed wall portion 22 adjacent rto the pusher plate 38 between the'window 44 and Vthe backZl are corrugated or serrated portions as shown at 4'5 'so that the fingers get a better grip upon these portions to Vvprevent slipping of the fingers '4 tions or scoring 49a so that a substantially large central opening 48 is provided in the bottom of the container, is seated within the tray I0, which is the upper portion of the device by pushing the cardboard container I8 inwardly, after rst having removed the cardboard in the center of the container I8 providing the central opening 48. This vis best accompli-shed by ,turning the container I B upside down, removing the central portion providing opening 48, and then turning v.the device upside down and forcing the tray portion i0 over the cardboard walls of the container t8 which will automatically causel the wedges I5 to ,grip the corners of container I8.

lThe container I8 with the device thus attached is then turned upside down so that the device becomes the bottom of the container IB. The contents, as for example the soap powder, will pass through the open-ing 48 of the bottom of container I8, through openings I4 and thence through openings 28 falling on either side of the divider plate 36 and into the lower portion or housing I9 of the device. The lower portion will then contain five tablespoonfuls of ,soap pOwden By tilting the container and the device Rand holding the same at the corrugated portion 46 between the thumb a-nd middle iinger and pressing the index iinger against plate 38,A the drawer 3E will thus be opened and the soap powder within the drawer will be dispensed. As the soap powder is dispensed from the drawer 30 from the lower compartment of the devcQ, the number of tablespoonfuls being dispensed can be readily followed by watching it pass the successive lines 4.5 of windows 44 so that if it -is desired to. dispense two tablespoonfuls of powder the pressure of the index iinger is released when the powder has reached the second line. lThe spring 29 will automatically close the drawer `3|! thus cutting off .the iiow of soap powder. When the device and container are again set down in upright position the soap powder from the container will keep the compartment of the lower portion of the device full of soap powder so that at all times thelower portion of the device will contain five tablespoonfuls of soap powder.

In Fig. ,6 a slight modification has been made in the device. The circular projection ,I4'I is somewhat klonger so that the face I4'1 of the projection will cause movable plate I2Ii to stop iinger plate I 38 at a vpoint so that openings II4 and i128 are not in alignment thus preventing the soap ypowder from passing from the container I3 to the compartment within the lower portion I9 vof the device.

It should be noted that in Fig. A.5 when the drawer 30 is in open position that the openings 28 override the openings I4. 'This has been done with a predetermined purpose, for the following reason. When the container I8 with the device thereon is tilted and the ,movable plate 26 is depressed in the position shown in Fig. 5 addtional soap powder will 'be flowing into the compartment of the lower .portion while the soap powder is .being dispensed so thatactually more than five tablespoonfuls of powder will pass out of the drawer of .the device whenit is ,desired u to dispense only live tablespoonfuls. In most instances, YSuch as dispensing soap powder. .an

. of the power thus dispensed.

The divider plate 36 tends to insure an .even

flow of the soap powder from the container I8 on both sides ofthe compartment within thev lower portion and without such center platethe soap powder may iiow'towards one corner or side of the device and the quantity measurement will therefore not be accurate. Thel angle at which the louvres 43 are positioned shields the openings I4 and 23 in the bottom I3 and plate 26 respectively, preventing the contents from the compartment in the lower portion' from re-entering the container While the contents are being dispensed, especially when the contents within the container `I8 is low.

It is apparent that the bottom of the cardboard container I 8 will be protected against water and moisture upon the floor or othersurface upon which the device and container is placed since the device is water-proof and legs 49A raise the bottom of the device above the surface upon which it stands. The device may be of plastic,

metal or like materials.

Referring to the Figs. 7 and 8, this modified device is substantially the device shown in Figs. 1 lto 6, inclusive, except that it provides a pair of cutting units I| imbedded in the lbottom 2I3 and the sides 2 are higher than sides II since sides 2II should be slightly higher than" 'the upper corners |56. The cutting units |5| cut openings in the bottom of the cardboard container 2|8 to permit the contents of the con` tainer to iiow into the dispensing device. Each unit comprises a pair of like opposed triangular side walls |52 having a cutting edge |53 on the sloping edge. Fastened between side walls |52 and slightly below the cutting edges I53 andrunning parallel thereto is a plate |54 which has a cutting edge |55 at the'top exposed edge which is curved slightly towards the upper cornersl56 of the side walls |52. The fastening means may be by extending tongues |59 passing through openings in the side walls |52.

The device shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is used in the same manner as described for Figs. 1 6, inclusive. When the container 2|8 is turned upside down, the bottom of the container is placed between walls 2|| and 2|2 and the device is then forced downward upon container I I 8 until the container reached bottom 2I3. This will cause the upper corners |56 of the side walls |52 to pierce"` the bottom of container' 2|8. .Cutting edges |53' and |55 will cut a portion |51 `of the bottom of the container. Such portions |51 would lie against the angular plates |54, as shown on Fig. 7. The contents in container 2| 8 would flow into the openings |58 provided between the side walls |52 and beneath the plate |54, thence through the openings2|4 and 228 and into the compartment of the lower portion of the device. The dispensing is done in the same manner as described for Figs. 1-6, inclusive.

When the contents of the container has been dispensed the cardboard container 2| 8 may be crushedat the corners and removed from the device. The retaining wedges 2|5 will release the container from the device when so collapsed.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A measuring and dispensing device for use with a container having a bottom opening, said device comprising an upper rectangular tray, said tray having a bottom with like openings uniformlyspaced apart, wedges in the innerv corners position within said tray, a measuring chamber receptacle below saidtray, ,a movable plate at the upper 'portion of said measuring chamber, said plate having like openings to coincide with the openings of the .bottom of said tray, said movablev plate containing a dispensing drawer at the front end kthereof and a push plate at the opposite end thereof,a transverse wall across one endof said chamber, said movable plate slidable at the top offsaid measuring chamber and over the upper edge of said-walL'said movable plate associated with the bottom of said tray and adapted to.permit materialy from the container to: enter said receptacle when the openings of said movable platecoincide with the openingsl openings downwardlyfand toward the oppositeA drawer end of said openings.v

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said measuring chamber has a partition at one end transversely across said chamber and running from the bottom of said chamber to slightly f' below the bottom of said movable plate, ay stop lug for limiting the movement of said movable plate, and a spring between said partition and said movable plate for returning said movable plate to its original position.

4. The device set vforthin claim` 3 wherein the end wall of said measuring chamber has an opening for said dispensing drawer, transparent windows on opposedsides of the walls of said measuring chamber, said windows having uniformly spaced llines as units of measurement to visually reveal the amount of material being dispensed.

e 5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the upper inner walls of said measuring chamber have opposed channels uponwhichsaid movable plate rides.

6. The combination comprising a dispensing and measuring device with a container having a bottom opening, said device comprising an upper rectangular tray and a lower receptacle, said tray having a bottom with like openings uniformly spaced apart, wedges in the inner corners of said tray for holding the lower portion of said'container within said tray, a movable plate at the topv of said lower receptacle, a measuring chamber within said receptacle, said movable plate having like openings to coincide with the openings of the bottom of said tray, said movable plate having a dispensing drawer at the front end andA a finger piece at its opposite end, a transverse wall across one end of said chamber, said movable plate slidable at the top of said measuring chamber and over the upper edge of said Wall, said plate associated with said tray and'adapted to permit material from said container to enter said measuring chamber when said dispensing drawer is in closed' position, said movable plate substantially cutting off communication between said container and saids'measuring*receptacle when said drawer'is indispensing position, springr means between said push plate yand said transverse wall for automatiy cally returning saiddrawer toits normal closed position. f

7. The device according toclaim 6 wherein the container has a closed bottom wall and the upper part of the bottom` o! -said .tray-has afpair of opposed` cutting units whichfautomatically out openings` in the bottom ci?A said container for permitting the-materialwithin said container to now into said measuring chamber when said movable plate is inrnormalposition. said cutting meansfattached to said bottom-of said tray and comprising a pair-'of like opposed triangular side walls having cutting edges on the sloping edge thereof, a'plate between said triangular side walls with'a cutting edge atcits top. said `last-named cutting edge lower 4than the upper edgeso said triangular side walls.` p

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said cutting units comprise opposed' triangular side walls, one edge of each of saidisidewalis being a cutting edge, and-an angularly disposed top wall slightly below said cutting edges and disposed between said triangular sides, said top wall having a cutting edge at the upper portionV thereofwhereby whensaid container yis pressed upon said cutting units and seated Within said tray openings will be automatically-cut in the bottom of said container for permitting the `material therein to flow into said measuring chamber.

9. In a dispensing device, the combination of a container having adelivery opening in the bottom thereof, a tray housing adapted to fit around the lower portion ofsaidcontainer and to firmly grip said container over said opening in the bottom ofsaid container, saidtray housing havingA a bottom with like openings uniformly spaced apart, a receptacle belowsaid tray housing, a measuring chamber within said receptacle, a movable plate slidable at the,v upper portion of said receptacle, said movableplate-having like openings to coincide with said openings in said tray bottom, the openings of-said movable plate beingadapted tofregister withsaidvopenings Vof said tray bottom when the material in said receptacle is not being-dispensed, adrawer at, one endof said movableplate for dispensing the material from said measuring chamber `when pressure is applied to said movable plate thereby mov-ing said drawer out .of said receptacle, a transverse wall across one end of said chamber, said movable plate slidable at the top of said measuring chamber and over the upper edge of said wall, spring means between said push plate and said transverse wall'for automatically re,- turnng said drawer to its normal closed position.

10. In a. dispensing device, the combination of a container having a delivery opening in the bottom thereof, a housing adapted to fit around the lower portion of said container firmlyv grip ping said container over said opening Uin the bottom of said container, said housing having a bottom. with like openings uniformly spaced apart,` a measuring chamber at the lower portion of said housing,v said measuring chamber having openings communicating with the interior of said container, amovable plate with-like openings to. coincide with said openings in said bottom, said movable plate slidablel against said bottom at the upper portion ofV said measuring chamber and having its; opening adapted to register with said openings' of said bottom when the.I material in said measuring chamber is not. being dispensed, a drawer at onek end of said movable plate and a fingerpiece attire. opposite end of saidv movable plata-a wan-transversely said z5; below each opening of said movable platey for;

chamber and spaced apartfrom said flngerpiece,

a `spring between said wall and said flngerpiece, wherebyv upon pressure of said ngerpiece, said drawer will open and dispense the material from said measuring chamber. 'i

11. In a dispensing device, the combination'of a container'h'aving a delivery opening in the bottom thereof, a travhousing adapted to t around the lower portion of said container and to iirmly grip said container over said opening in the bottom of said container, said tray housing having gripping wedges in the corners thereof for firmly gripping said container, said tray housing having a bottom with like openings uniformly spaced apart, a measuring chamber below said bottom, a movable platehaving like openings to coincide with said openings in said bottom, said movable plate slidable against said tray bottom, said plate being at the top of said measuring chamber and having-its openings adapted to register withA said openings of said tray bottom when the material in said measuring chamber is not being dispensed and not to register when the material is being dispensed, a drawer at one end of said movable plate `for dispensing the material from said measuring chamber, a fingerpiece at the opposite end of said movable plate, a transverse wall across one end of said measuring chamber spaced apart from said ngerpiece, a lug stop on said wall for limiting the movement of said ngerpiece, a spring seated upon said lug stop and against the back of saidngerpiece for returning said fingerpiece to its original position upon release of pres.- sure thereon, whereby upon pressure upon said iingerpiece, the material within said measuring chamber will be dispensed, simultaneously shutting 01T the flow of material from said container to said measuring chamber, and upon release of pressure upon said ngerpiece said movable plate, drawer and ingerpiece will return to the original position causing the material from said container to fill said measuring chamber.

l2. In al dispensing device, the combination of a container having a delivery opening in the bottom thereof, a tray housing adapted to nt around the lower portion of said container and to firmly grip said container over said openings in the bottom of said container, wedges in the corners of said tray housing for firmly gripping said container retaining said container within said tray housing, said tray housing having a bottom with like openings uniformly spaced apart, a measuring chamber below said tray housing, said measuring chamber having a movable plate at the upper portion thereof slidable against the tray bottom, said movable plate having like openings to coincide with said openings in said tray bottom,` said openings n said tray bottom and said movable plate communicating with said container and said measuring chamber, a transverse wall below said movable plate and at one end of said measuring chamber, said movable plate slidable at the top of said measuring chamber and over the upper edge. of said wall and having its openings adapted to register with said openings of said tray bottom when the material in said measuring chamber is not being dispensed and not to register when the material is being dispensed., a drawer at one end of said movable plate adapted to move out of said measuring chamber and a iingerpiece vat the opposite end of said movable plate, said -wall spaced a short distance from said iingerpiece, a series 4of baille louvres depending from the bottom of said movable plate:

preventing the material vfrom said measuring ychamber from re-entering said ccntairi'e'r Ewhile the material from said measuring chamber'is being dispensed, a lug stoponsaid wall forlimiting the movement of said movable plate, a spring one end of lwhich is seated upon said lug stop andthe opposite end seated against said fingerpiece, whereby upon tilting said container with said housing and applying pressure upon said fingerpiece, said drawerv will dispense material from said measuring chamber and automatically return to its original position upon release of the pressure upon said iingerpiece.

13. In a dispensing device, the combination of a container having a delivery opening in the bottom thereof, a tray housing adapted to fit around the bottom of said container and to rmly grip said container over said opening in the bottom of said container, said tray housing having a bottom with like openings uniformly spaced apart, a measuring chamber below said housing, said measuring chamber having a movable plate at the upper portion thereof, said movable plate having like openings to coincide with said openings in said tray bottom, said movable plate slidable at the top of said measuring chamber and having its openings adapted to register with said openings of said bottom when the material in said measuring chamber is not being dispensed and substantially not to register when said material is being dispensed, a drawer at one end of said movable plate adapted to move out of said measuring chamber, a iingerpiece at the opposite end of said movable plate, a transverse wall at one end of said measuring chamber spaced apart from said fingerpiece, a lug stop on said wall for limiting the movement of said movable plate, inwardly projecting lugs on said fingerpiece, a spring one end of which is seated upon said lug stop and the opposite end seated against said ngerpiece within said inwardly projecting lugs, an opening for said drawer at one end of said measuring chamber, baille louvres depending from said movable plate and angularly disposed below the openings of said movable plate to prevent material from said measuring chamber from reentering the container when the material is being dispensed while the container is angularly disposed, a longitudinal central wall depending from the center of said movable plate, said central wall reaching almost to the bottom of said measuring chamber to keep the material in said measuring chamber from shifting towards one end of said measuring chamber, transparent longitudinal walls at the lower portion of said measuring chamber, said transparent walls divided into uniform sections representing one tablespoonful of material, whereby upon pressure upon said fingerpiece and tilting of said container, said drawer will dispense said material and upon release of said fingerpiece, said drawer will automatically return to its original position shutting off the flow of material from said drawer and causing the material from said container to fill said measuring chamber.

14. A measuring and dispensing device for use with a container having a bottom opening, said device comprising an upper rectangular tray, said tray having a bottom with an opening, corner fastening means in said tray for holding said container in firm position within said tray, a measuring chamber receptacle below said tray, a movable plate at the upper portion of said measuring chamber, said plate having an opening to coincide with the opening of the bottom of l0 said trayfs'aidmovable platecontaining a dispensing compartment at one'end thereof and a ngerpiece at the opposite endthereoi transverse wall acrossone end of said chamber, saidmovable plate slidable at the top of said measuringchamber and over the upper edge of said wall, said plate associated with the bottom of said tray and adapted to vpermit material from said container to enter said receptacle when the opening of said plate coincides with the opening of said tray bottom, said movable plate substantially cutting off communication between said container and said receptacle when said dispensing compartment is in dispensing position, spring means between said push plate and said transverse wall for automatically returning said drawer to said normal closed position.

15. A measuring and dispensing device for use with a container having a bottom opening, said device comprising an upper tray, said tray having a bottom with openings spaced apart, fastening means within said tray for holding said container in firm position within said tray, a measuring chamber receptacle below said tray, a movable plate at the upper portion of said measuring chamber, said plate having openings to coincide with the openings of the bottom of said tray, said movable plate containing a dispensing compartment at one end thereof and a iingerpiece at the opposite end thereof for manually moving said plate a transverse wall across one end of said chamber, said movable plate slidable at the top of said measuring chamber and over the upper edge of said wall, said plate associated with the bottom of said tray and adapted to permit material from said container to enter said receptacle when the openings of said plate coincide with the openings of said tray bottom, said movable plate substantially cutting olf communication between said container and said receptable when said dispensing compartment is in a dispensing position, spring means between said push plate and said transverse wall for automatically returning said tray to its normal closed position.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the container has a closed bottom wall and the upper part of the bottom of said tray has cutting means which automatically cuts an opening in the bottom of said container for permitting the material within said container to ilow into said measuring chamber when said movable plate is in normal position, said cutting means attached to said bottom of said tray and comprising a pair of like opposed triangular side walls having cutting edges on the sloping edge thereof, a plate between said triangular side walls with a cutting edge at its top, said last-named cutting edge lower than the upper edges of said triangular side walls.

17. The device according to claim l5, wherein HERBERT LA MERS. CHARLES LEICHT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Olmstead Jan. 24, 1893 Number (Other references on following page) Number 1 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS I Name Date' Helmld Mar. 12, 1907 Lofland May 13, 1913 Quest Apr. 9, 1929 Wiswell Sept. 3, 1935 Rochester Novx3`, 1936 Matter June 14, 1938 Sefert June l13, -1939 Dodd ocmw,- 1939 1 Fyans June 30, 1942 Deland May 11, 1943 lNumberv Nl-unber Name Date Incke Feb.A 8, 1944 Halstead May 25, 1948 Burnham Mar. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan, 5, 1901 Italy oct. 1'1, 1927 GreatBritain July 25,1932 GreatBritan Mar. 12, 1934 

